Peter Steinberg's Reading List (Best Book Recommendations)

Peter Steinberg's Reading List

a list by Peter Steinberg, avid reader

While building this website, I've had the unique experience of reading about hundreds of books I wouldn't otherwise have come across. A few, those listed below, sounded so great that I wanted to add them to my "must read someday" list.

So... while I haven't read a single one of the books below (and therefore can't personally vouch for their individual quality) they all sounded so good that I added them to this list.

onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/A_Soldier_of_the_Great_War');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0156031132'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/A_Soldier_of_the_Great_War');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0156031132'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin Amazon readers say: "Nobel candidate?" "Stunningly beautiful, monumental, a classic." "Greatest american novel of the late 20th century." "One of the best -- if not the best -- books I've ever read!" onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/A_Soldier_of_the_Great_War');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0156031132'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">more on Amazon onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/A_Soldier_of_the_Great_War');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0156031132'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow"> 880 page paperback \|$10.88 \|149 reviews This book also appears on Ed Bomze's Favorite Fiction


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Source');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0375760385'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Source');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0375760385'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">The Source by James A. Michener Amazon readers say: "History coming to life!" "Elegance and beauty on every page." "Michener's best historical novel." "Insight into sameness of Judaism, Christianity and Islam." onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Source');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0375760385'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">more on Amazon onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Source');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0375760385'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow"> 928 page paperback \|$10.85 \|139 reviews This book also appears on Hal Steinberg's Favorite Novels


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/Portnoys_Complaint');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0679756450'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/Portnoys_Complaint');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0679756450'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth Amazon readers say: "Roth teaches gentiles alot about what it means to be a Jew." "A Jewish boy's sexual struggle." "A classic dirty book and more!" "One of the funniest books ever written." onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/Portnoys_Complaint');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0679756450'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">more on Amazon onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/Portnoys_Complaint');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0679756450'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow"> 304 page paperback \|$11.16 \|101 reviews This book also appears on: Every Book by Philip Roth The Modern Library's 100 Greatest Novels of the 20th Century


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Long_Walk_The_True_Story_of_a_Trek_to_Freedom');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/1592289444'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Long_Walk_The_True_Story_of_a_Trek_to_Freedom');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/1592289444'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom by Slavomir Rawicz Amazon readers say: "A stunning and unusual memoir." "A testament to the human spirit." "An incredible story of human endurance and tragedy." "What would you risk to win freedom?" onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Long_Walk_The_True_Story_of_a_Trek_to_Freedom');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/1592289444'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">more on Amazon onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Long_Walk_The_True_Story_of_a_Trek_to_Freedom');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/1592289444'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow"> 256 page paperback \|$11.53 \|287 reviews This book also appears on Simeon Stolzberg's Favorite Books


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Great_Brain_Is_Back');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0803713460'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Great_Brain_Is_Back');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0803713460'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">The Great Brain Is Back by John D. Fitzgerald Amazon readers say: "Like The Wonder Years..." "Great book, but read the others first." "Closure for a great series." "Get the series, they are great classic children's books." onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Great_Brain_Is_Back');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0803713460'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">more on Amazon onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Great_Brain_Is_Back');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0803713460'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow"> 128 page hardcover \|$11.55 \|15 reviews This book also appears on The Complete Great Brain Series


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Box_How_the_Shipping_Container_Made_the_World_Smaller_and_the_World_Economy_Bigger');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0691136408'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Box_How_the_Shipping_Container_Made_the_World_Smaller_and_the_World_Economy_Bigger');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0691136408'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger by Marc Levinson Ok. I'll admit, this book sounds... BORING. But it's supposed to be downright fascinating so heck, I'll read it. onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Box_How_the_Shipping_Container_Made_the_World_Smaller_and_the_World_Economy_Bigger');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0691136408'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">more on Amazon onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/The_Box_How_the_Shipping_Container_Made_the_World_Smaller_and_the_World_Economy_Bigger');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0691136408'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow"> 400 page paperback \|$10.17 \|28 reviews This book also appears on Joe Nocera's Best Non-Fiction Business Books Ever


onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/A_Long_Way_Gone_Memoirs_of_a_Boy_Soldier');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0374105235'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">	onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/A_Long_Way_Gone_Memoirs_of_a_Boy_Soldier');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0374105235'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah Amazon says: Wars are now fought now by children, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s. Children have become soldiers of choice. In the more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. Ishmael Beah used to be one of them. What is war like through the eyes of a child soldier? How does one become a killer? How does one stop? Child soldiers have been profiled by journalists, and novelists have struggled to imagine their lives. But until now, there has not been a first-person account from someone who came through this hell and survived. In "A Long Way Gone," Beah, now twenty-five years old, tells a riveting story: how at the age of twelve, he fled attacking rebels and wandered a land rendered unrecognizable by violence. By thirteen, he'd been picked up by the government army, and Beah, at heart a gentle boy, found that he was capable of truly terrible acts. onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/A_Long_Way_Gone_Memoirs_of_a_Boy_Soldier');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0374105235'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow">more on Amazon onClick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/to_amazon/Peter_Steinbergs_Reading_List/A_Long_Way_Gone_Memoirs_of_a_Boy_Soldier');" onMouseOver="window.status='http://amazon.com/dp/0374105235'; return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''; return true;" rel="nofollow"> 240 page hardcover \|$14.96 \|377 reviews This book also appears on: The 2008 Alex Awards The America Library Association's 2008 List of The Top 10 Best Books for Young Adults The New York Times' 50 Notable Books of 2007 (Non-Fiction) Time Magazine's Top 10 Books of 2007 (Non-Fiction)

Know any books we should add to the list above? .